Apparatus for removing suspended matter from gases and vapors.



11. L. noann'ry. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SUSPENDED HATTER F30] GASES AND VAPORS APPLIQATIOI FILED. DEC. 31, 1!;

1,034,21 5. rammed m 30, 1912.

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g; 1 Henry Lnulfiertauavwe/wtoz H. L. DOHE'RTY. v APPARATUS FOR. REMOVING SUSPENDED MATTER FROM GASES AND VAPORS.

APPLIOA TION FILED DEC. 31, 1909. 1,034,215. Patented July 30, 1912.

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Henry L. Dohert;/.

A H.L.DOHERTY. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SUSPENDED MATTER FROM GASES AND VAPORS.

APPLIOATION I'IL ED D EG.3l, 1909 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

1 Application filed December 31, 1908. Serial No. 535,842.;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. DOHERTY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York cit in the county of New York and State '0 New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Suspended Matter from Gases and Vapors, of'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for removing suspendcd matter from gases and vapors and, particularly, to a'type of such apparatus in which the gaseous current is caused to follow a spiral path.

. The object of my invention is to providea means for separating from a gaseous current, substantially all of the suspended liquid and solid particles, which it contains,

with special reference to the removal of tar and dust particles from illuminating gas.

In my invention which is the subject of Letters Patent No. 798,667, dated Sept. 5,

y 1905, I have revealed an apparatus for acrent, while permitting each particle thereof to travel always in thesame horizontal plane.

By this apparatus I am enabled to separate the suspended matter from the gas by the utilization of centrifugal force, and atthe same time, avoid the relatively high pressure that is requisite for carrying out this method in my former apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical diametral section through the apparatus on the line A B of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section through the same on the line C D of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the apparatus, showing the device for regulating the water-level therein;-

' Fig. l is a plan of the whole apparatus,

Fig. 5 is a part diametral sect-ion of the upper portion of the separator similar to Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale, showing the liquid supplying device; Fig. 6 is an on? t cross-section on the line F periphery of the latter.

vice in top View.

Patented Juiy I1 f I of Fig. 1 showing the liquid supplyin g In the several figures, 1 designates. the i separating chamber, proper. [This is. simply a cylindrical chamber, having attached, to its wall a gas chamber .2, formed byrivet- 5 ing (or otherwise fastening), a curvedfsheet 3 tothe outer shell of the chamber ll A' vertical slot at is cut in the shell of 1, so as to leave free communication between 2 and 1 at" the v 5, designates a perforated, vertical pipe attached tothe top of 1 and terminating some distance from the bottom thereof.

6 is a continuous spiral partition attached to the top of 1 and terminating, like 5, some distance from the bottom of 1. The inner convolution of 6 encircles the pipe 5, while;

its outermost convolution is attached to the shell 0i.- 1 so as to leave the outermost convolution of the spiral'rpassage, 7, formed;

within 1 by partition 6,111 freecommunication with 2. g 8, is a water"(or other liquid) inlet com-f sew municating with the lower part of chamber 1 through which water is fed at, preferably,

as uniform a rate as possible, to 1.

9, is a discharge for water -(or other The discharge through 9 is regulated by a quick openingg cock or valve 10, which is preferably so conliquid) from chamber 1.

structed that the turning of the valve stem 11 through a complete quadrant will openor close 10. The movement ofll through to the method of operation used. Small a small are between its extreme positions of open or shut serves to regulate the, s rate of .discharge'of liquid from 1. A pipe,

12, communicates with the chamber 2 for the admission or discharge of gas, according gas-holders, 13 and 1&,-respectively, are con-,

nected with pipes 12 and 5 by pipes 15 and .16, respectively. The respective lifts 13' and 1 1 of the gas holders 13 and 14 areconnected to the rocking-arm 17'by links 10 and 14", respectivelysa The center or fulv crum of 17 is attached to thestem 11 ,of f

cook 10. By the suitable weighting of lifts "13 and M by isj according to, th 2 5 pressure conditions prevailing (and according to the dead weights oi tlie lifts) it is evident that they may be made to change their positions accordingto the magnitude of the pressure d'ifierence exist ing between 5 and 12. It is also evident that eve tion of the lifts 13', causes "stant headvof liquid on valve 29, so that the supply of liqu1d to 1 may be maintained unieither forced or induced as seems most deliquid to the discharge '21 of 18. "another baflie reaching nearly to'the bottom 18 is a well for separating the heavy tarry.

matter from the water or otherliquid used as the seal in 1.

19 'is the inlet into the tar separator 18, WhlCll receives the discharge from pipe 9..

. 20 1sa baflie preventing the direct flow of 0:15.18 and dividing the latter into two com partments, 23 and 24, communicating 'through'the passage 25, between the bottom of 22 and of the well 18.-

. 26 is the discharge pipe for tar from 18. 21 is connected with the suction pipe 27 of circulating pump 28, whose discharge is connected with pipe 29 discharging into the liquor inlet 8 of separator 1.

In order to maintain a substantially conform, the reservoir '37 is provided. This is connected to pipe 29 by connection 31 and has an overflow 31 through which any surf plus liquid maybe withdrawn from the system. The circulating pump is thus always discharging against-the head of liquid in reservoir 37. When the liquid passing through the pump is below the normal 'quan tity the'deficiency is supplied by the liquid in 37. When the liquid passing through the pump, 28, is greater than the normal quantity, the excess passes through 31 to reservoir 37, thus again filling the latter. The reservoir 37 should be of such capacity that the'fiuctuations in the quantity of liquid discharging from 1 does not materially affeet the level of the liquid in 37. Fresh water may be added to that in circulation, through the pipe 30, and any surplus liquor may be withdrawn from circulation through the pipe 31.

32 is a pressure gage on 5, and 33 a corresponding gage on 12. 34 is a water gage indicating the level of the liquid seal in 1. 13" and 14 are corresponding gages on 13 and 14, respectively.

10" and 14" are connections for introducing the sealing liquid into the tanks of 13. and 14, respectively.

In operating my invention the gas may be passed through the spiral passage 7 either from the periphery to the center, or vice 'vers'a'. fAlso, the draft through 7 may be 'sirable, the requirement being, simply, that there should exist a sufiicient difference in pressure between 5 and 12 to impart the required velocity to the gas. I

In the apparatus figured the method of operation is as follows: Water is supplied to 1 throughthe pipes 30 and 8, until the gage 3 1 shows that the proper quantity of water ha's,.-been introduced to seal the pastion. Valve 29" is a just outer convolution of sages 7 and 5. Cock 10 is now adjusted to its normal position and the circulating pump started Additional water is run in from 30 until the normal uantitl-y is in circulaso that li uid ustfails to flow through pipe 31. "The ifts 13' and 14' of gas-holders 13' and 14 are now connected up to the rocking bar 17 and gas turned on through the passage 12 under the necessary pressure. The gas enters the passage 7 and passes through 7 taking on a igher and higher angular velocity as it nears the center of the splral. Arrived at the center of the spiral the gas passes throu h the openings or perforations 5'. in 5 an thence leaves the separator 1 through 5, assing, usually therefrom, to the rest of t e condensing and urlfying train. During its'passage throng 5 the angular velocity communicated to the gas (or vapor generates sufiicient centrifugal force to t row the suspended liquid or solid particles (dust) to the periphery of I the gas current and, therefore, into contact wlth the outerwall of the spiral. This soon becomes coated with a film of tar, which in turn assists in the removal of other tar from a fresh portion of gas. The simple projection of dust articles against a vertical wall would not e ect their withdrawal from the gas current as the buoyant effect of the current of gas moving at a high velocity and the contact friction between the gas and dust would sweep the particles along even while in contact with the wall of the passage. The tarry liquid, however, possesses a considerable surface tension, and adheres to the wall with considerable tenacitysufiicient, in fact, to resist the tendency that the friction of the gas current has to sweep the deposited particles back into the current.- This tarry film seizes the liquid globules and dust particles as they come in contact with the wall and withdraws them from the influence of the current of gas sweeping through the passage 7 As the deposit on the wall accumulates the outer layer forms innumerable rivulets" which run ofi into the liquid seal in the bottom of 1. The force of adhesion between the tar and wall, however, sufiices to keep the latter coated with a comparatively thick continuous film.

\Vhein the normal volume of gas is passing and the circulation of liquid is normal, the lifts 113, lat. of holders 13 and 14: are weighted so that the beam 17 is horizontal and the system is in equilibrium. If now the volume of gas supplied through 12,

should increase. the tendency is for the pres.

This causesthe hit 13 i quantity supplied through 8 is constant, the result is that the level of the sealing liquid in 1 drops until the clear, unsealed area of passage 7 is suiiicient to accommodate the increased volume of gas passing. without causing any-increase in the normal difference in pressure between 12' and 5. The result is that the lifts 13, 14:, of the gas difference has again reached" normal, the

holders return to their; normal position again maintaining a constant level of seal in luas long. as the .volume 'of gas remains constant;

I do not herein claim this method of regulating thearea of a, gas passage according tofthe volume of gas passing therethrough as'that wil l form. the subject of. another apiPli'cation-sj :ff The water flowing. through '9, carrying the f tar and other matter separated-from the gas,

# discharges into the tar separator 18. Here the. heavy tarry mat ter-tends to settle to the bottom-c1518 while the lighter portiona of the liquid flows to the discharge 21. On starting the apparatus suflicient tax is in- .treduced to seal the passage 25, until the level 0f the liquid hasirisen-Ito; the highest pgint. During the initial fillingof the sepa- "lfiterthe iquid flowsr from one to the other oft t ggel36, the level oft-he tar in 23 can cums be ascertained 1 Whenthe apparatus'is' to-be used as a duet; separator; or when there is a deficiency Qfitanjinthe gastreated, '1 supply the tar as: other fil'm'forming liquid through the v, 38, tothe spiraldistributing pipe 39. has perforations 4O inits bottom, and Thus its peripheral termination, 39', capped. iThaliirhidsupplied through 38 discharges .d'gijthrgngh the perforations 40, and falls on the r deflectin plate 41; Th s; is simply a v spiralg'gsheet, astened to. the spiral partition gttasgshnwn 40 .does not come into actual *contaetgwith 6' but is separated therefrom .66" spacers 42. The liquid falling on 41 be supplied through 38.

holders resume their normal position, re-

discharges through the space {t3 between 41 and G and runs down the latter wall as' a continuous film. While tar is generally well adapted for the film-forming liquid, it is manifest that any other suitable liquid may Having described my invention, what I claims is 1. In an apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein,

the combination of a cylindrical chamber,

a substantially vertical, continuous 'spiral partition in said chamber, the upper edge of said partition being fastened to the top of said chamber and its lower edge terminating in a liquid seal in the bottom of said chamber, whereby a continuous spiral passage isformed from the center to the periphery of said chamber, a gas conduit connected to the centrahe'xtremity of said spiral passage, a gas conduit connected to the peripheral extremity of 'saidflspiral passage, and means for varying the level of the liquid seal in the bottom of said chamber according to the volume of as passin through said chamber. a a

2. In an apparatus for separating from agaseous fluid, matter suspended therein, the combinationof a spiral passage for impartingan angular motion to said gaseous said gas chamber, a liquid sea'l, sealing-the bottom of said spiral passage, means for continuously ,supplyingxliquid to said seal, a passage for continuously withdrawing liquid from said seal, a valve on said passage for regulating the flow. of liquid therethrough, and means for varying the degree of opening of said valve with the difference in pressure between the gaseous fluid enter- Y 3. In an apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein, the combination of a separating chamber, a substantially, vertical spiral partition in said separating chamber, said partition having its upper edge fastened to the top of said separating chamber and its lower edge terminating in a liquid seal in the lower part of said chamber, whereby a continuous spiralgpassage is formed in aid separating chamber, the free area of whose cross-section varies with the depth of the liquid seal in said chamber, a perforated pipe communicating with the innermostv convolution of said spiral passagef'a gas chamber communicating with the outermost convolution of said spiral passage, gas conduits connected, respectively, to said perforated pipe and said gas chamber, a plpe for continuously supplying liquid to the liquid seal in said chamber, a pipe for continuously withdrawlng liquid from the liquid sea-l insaid chamher, a regulating'valve on the latter of said to one extremity of said rocking arm and a gas holder having its lift connected to the other extremity ofsaid rocking arm, a con-' duit establishing communication between the interior of the liftof one of the gas holders" and the conduit conducting gas to said spiral passage, and a conduit establislr, ing communication between the interior of the lift of the other of said gas holders and the conduit conducting gas away-from said spiral passage, whereby the lifts of said holders are caused to have a compensating vertical motion in unison according to the difference in pressure between the gas in the said gas conduits.

4. In an apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein, the combination of a separating chamber, a substantially, vertical, spiral partition in said separating chamber, said partition having its upper edge fastened to the top of said separating chamber and its lower edge terminating in a liquid seal in the lower part of said chamber, whereby a continuous spiral passage is formed in said separatingchamber the free area of whose cross-section varies with the depth of the liquidsea l in said chamber, a perforated pipe c0mmuni-. eating with the innermost convolution of said spiral passage, a gas chamber communicating with the outermost convolution of said spiral passage, a gas conduit communieating with said perforated pipe and a gas conduit communicating with the said gas chamber, and meansfor varying the depth of the seal in said chamber, said means comprising. a passage for continuously supplying-liquid to said chamber, and a passage for continuously withdrawing liquid from said chamber, a regulating valve on the latter of said passages, and a means for returning all or part of the liquid passing through the latter of said passages to thefirst of said passages, a rocking'arm for actuating said regulating valve, said arm having one end connected to the lift of a gas holder in com-' munication with the conduit conducting gas to said spiral passage and its other end connected to the lift of a gas holder in communication with the conduit conducting gas away from said spiral passage, the lifts of said gas holders being so weighted that the said rocking arm will be in such position that the corresponding position of the regulating valve will permit of the discharge from said separating chamber of substantially the quantity of liquid that is being supplied to said chamber, when the normal volume of gas is passing through said spiral passage.

5. In an apparatus for separating from'a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein, the

combination ofa horizontal-spiral passage, adapted to impart an angular motlon in a horizontal plane to the gaseous fluid passing therethrough, a gas passage communicating with the innermost convolution of said spiral passage and a gas passage communicating with the outermost convolution of said spiral passage, a cover closing the top of said passage and a liquid seal sealing the lower part of said passage, means for maintaining a continuous and uniform supply of liquid to said seal and means for maintaining a. continuous discharge of liquid from said seal, means for. varying the quantity of liquid discharging from said seal according to the difference between the pressure of the gas at its entrance to said spiral passage and the pressure of the gas at its exit from said spiral passage, whereby the depth of said seal is made to vary inversely with the volume of gas" passing through said spiral passage and the free area of said passagemade thereby to vary directly with the volume of gas passing through said spiral passage. V

6. In an apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid mattersuspendeditherein, the combination of a horizontal-spiral passage adapted to impart an angular motion in a horizontal plane to the gaseous: fluid passing therethrough, agas passage communicating with the innermost convolution of said spiral passage and a gas passage communicating with the outermost convolution of said spiral passage, a cover inclosing the top of sald spiral passage, a'nd a liquid seal sealingthe lower part of said passage, means for maintaining a continuous anduniform supply of liquid to'said seal and means for maintaining a continuous discharge of liquid from said seal, means forvarying the quantity of liquid discharging from said seal according to the difference between the pressure of the gas at its entrance to said spiral passage and the pressure'ofthe-gas at its exit from said spiral passage, means for separating from the discharged liquid the tarry matter contained therein, and

means for returning all or part of the sub% -1 stantially tar free liquid to the seal.

7. In an apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein, the combination of a cylindrical chamber, a substantially vertical, continuous spiral parti-- tion in said chamber, the upperedge of said partition being fastened to the top of said chamber and its lower edge terminating in a liquid seal in the bottom of said chamber whereby a continuous spiral passage is formed from the center to the periphery of l spiral passage, and means for varying the sand chamber, a perforated spiral pipe for level of the liquid seal in the bottom of said supplying liquid located in the upper part chamber according to the volume of gas 5 of sald spiral chamber, and following the passing through said chamber. convolut-ions thereof, a deflecting plate at- I Signed at New York city in the county of tached to the Wall of said spiral passage New York and State of New York this 9 1th but not in direct contact therewith, whereby day of December A. D 1909.

there is left an openin between said plate 4, T v and said wall for the piissa-ge of liquid, said Li DOHLhTi' below said spiral pipe, a gas conduit con- V. J. Qunxrix,

deflecting plate being located immediately Witnesses:

nected to the peripheralextremity of said THOS. l. CARTER. 

